Family of Mumbai gangrape accused in shock, unwell after arrest

Mohamed Salim Ansari’s family can’t believe that he is involved in the rape of the 22-year-old photojournalist.

“I never thought a married man with two sons would ever do something like this,” said Ansari’s wife, who said her name was Shahjahan.

“Our lives have been destroyed. My mother-in-law and I have been unwell since we realised my husband was involved in the rape incident,” said Shahjahan.

Reluctant to talk about Ansari, the Chembur resident said they were not aware of his involvement before his arrest.

“Whatever he did was because he was drunk. But those responsible will be punished,” said Shahjahan, adding that Ansari would earn by making boxes, and would sometimes look for odd jobs to make some extra cash.

Shahjahan and her motherin-law, Amisha, wash utensils in their neighbourhood to earn a living. “Our future is very uncertain now. Will the world accept us?” she said.

Amisha, meanwhile, said the news of her son’s involvement had drained her emotionally and physically.

“I lost all my kids when they were young. Mohamed was the only one and our future now seems dark,” she said.

Ansari’s two sons — 10 and 6 — are too young to understand what their father has done, but Amisha is worried about the repercussions it might have on the children.